I am Kathleen Raskin of Las Vegas, and today I’d like to welcome you into my kitchen to celebrate National Sloppy Joe Day. There are a lot of variations on this recipe, but today I’m bringing you the classic Sloppy Joe.  This ground beef and tomato sauce sandwich may have originated at a café in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s, after a cook named Joe got the innovative and delicious idea to add tomato sauce to the café’s loose meat sandwiches. History also suggests the original Sloppy Joe may have been created at Key West, Florida’s Sloppy Joe’s Bar. While we don’t have any definitive proof of one story of origin or the other, we have plenty of proof that this sandwich has remained an American favorite over the decades...

The potato chip was first invented at Saratoga, NY’s elegant Moon Lake Lodge on August 24, 1853. Since then, it’s gone on to become one of America’s favorite snack foods. Join me, Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, in observing National Potato Chip day by deep-frying up a batch of these crispy, savory treats. One of my favorite things about homemade chips is you can add any seasonings you like. While I have provided seasoning instructions in my recipe, I encourage you to experiment and come up with your own family favorite recipe. Bon appetite!

Ingredients

1-1/2 lbs medium russet potatoes

7 to 8 cups oil, for the best taste use peanut or canola

Kosher salt to taste

2 tsps garlic powder

1 ½ tsps celery salt

1 ½ tsps pepper

Directions

Fill a large bowl with ice water and then soak the ...

March 9^th is National Meatball Day. Let’s observe this delicious holiday with a Crock-Pot-friendly spicy meatball recipe! The secret to my spicy curry crockpot meatballs is madras curry, which is the fiery cousin of the common yellow curry powder many of us have in our spice rack. The two spices share many ingredients in common, such as cumin and fenugreek, but madras has red chiles that turn it a deeper, darker red hue.

This is one of my favorite recipes because you can adjust the heat by adding more or less curry depending upon your guests’ tastes. It’s so easy, too—just pop it into the Crock-Pot and forget about it while you get ready. It couldn’t be easier or more delicious...

Do you love strawberries? Who doesn’t? If you want to learn how to make incredible homemade ice cream, celebrate National Strawberry Day with me, Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, this Wednesday, February 27^th! Strawberries are showing up in the markets again just in time for this favorite food holiday. Once you’ve had a taste of this rich, decadent strawberry ice cream, you may not be able to go back to store-bought!

This is the perfect dessert for spring and summer, and here where it’s warming up already it’s a good choice for winter as well. I promise this will be the best strawberry ice cream you’ve ever tasted, with a burst of fresh berries and vanilla in every bite. There are recipes with egg and without, and this one is the latter...

February 20^th is National Cherry Pie Day! Celebrate with me, Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, by trying my favorite cherry pie recipe. I know apple pie is the traditional American dessert, but cherry is a close second, which is funny when you consider that the first cherry pie was made for England’s Queen Elizabeth I. Traditionally this favorite dessert is made using tart cherries rather than sweet. Tapioca starch is the key to making your cherry pie turn out just right every time. Are you ready to get started? Let’s bake!

Crust

The secret to perfect crust: pastry flour.

Ingredients

3 cups pastry flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup ice water

1 tbsp vinegar

Directions

Using a pastry cutter, cut cold butter and shortening into your flour, then mix in vinegar and ice wa...

I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and I’d like to invite you to celebrate National Peppermint Patty Day with me! Since they were introduced in 1940, York’s Peppermint Patties have remained a favorite with candy lovers around the world. If you think the temptation is too much to resist when you see these candies in the grocery store checkout aisle, just wait until you try the homemade version! These should come with a warning label, because they’re addictive.

Ingredients

5 cups sifted powdered sugar

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

1 tbsp refined coconut oil

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

24 oz finely chopped dark chocolate

½ cup corn syrup

2 teaspoons shortening

Directions

Sprinkle half the powdered sugar over parchment paper...

February 5^th is World Nutella Day, and if that isn’t reason to celebrate then I don’t know what is. I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and I’d like to welcome you into my kitchen for some delicious, nutritious, homemade Nutella! This is one of those foods we don’t normally think of making ourselves at home, but I think the extra work is worth the effort. Try it for yourself and let me know in the comments how you thought this recipe stands up to the real deal!

Ingredients

1 ½ cups raw hazelnuts

½ cup almonds

1 ½ tbsp vanilla extract

¼ cup cocoa powder

3 ounces of bittersweet chocolate

4 ounces milk chocolate

3 tbsp honey

¼ tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp oil

½ cup whole milk

¾ cup powdered whole milk

Directions

The first step in this recipe is toasting the nuts in your oven,...

My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you into my Las Vegas kitchen! February 1^st is National Baked Alaska Day. You may think this dessert is too complicated to make yourself, and I am happy to show you how simple it can be. Don’t be intimidated to try making your own Baked Alaska. It only takes five ingredients, and it’s easier than you think.

This is an old favorite dessert that is long overdue for a comeback. Charles Ranhofer, the chef at New York’s famous Delmonico’s restaurant, first invented this cake in 1867 to celebrate the purchase of Alaska. Originally called Alaska-Florida Cake, the name was eventually changed to Baked Alaska...

I am Kathey Raskin. Welcome to my Las Vegas kitchen! Today is National Granola Day. There are many delicious varieties of granola available at the store, but I like to make my own. Store-bought granola is costly, it can be fattening, and it never has as many goodies in it as I like. If you have a baking sheet, a mixing bowl, and an oven, you can make your own granola. Once your house smells like fresh-baked granola, you’ll thank me for the suggestion!

The Benefits of Eating Granola

You may have heard granola is unhealthy, but the truth is you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you’d like. The benefits of granola are too numerous to list in their entirety, but even the short list makes an incredible case for adding this delicious food to your diet.

• Increased energy
• Reduced chole...

Today is National Bagel Day, and here at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen we are ready to celebrate! My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you to my Las Vegas kitchen. We’re all so busy these days, it’s easy to fall into the habit of eating fast food and unhealthy snacks when we’re on the run. I love bagels because with the right choices they present a healthy alternative that doesn’t skimp on convenience.

Bagels may have originated in Poland, but since they were brought over by 19^th century immigrants they’ve become a popular treat here in America. It’s easy to see why we love bagels. They are convenient and delicious for any meal or for a snack. There are many varieties, including options that appeal to children like cinnamon raisin and blueberry.

You may have heard t...